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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

At some steakhouses, diners with the courage to finish a Flinstones-sized piece of beef get a prize and a free meal. The same should be offered to anyone who can down a 48-ounce martini or 2-liter beer boot, no? These monstrous cocktails pose the ultimate challenge, one we don't recommend taking alone.

Cocktail Size Matters:

Prost2566 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, ILIf you dare to order the 2-liter 'Das' beer boot at this German beerhall, you better abide by the rule: Once you pick it up, don't put it down until it's empty. Drinkers' advisory: Do not operate heavy machinery.

Zocalo Restaurant and Tequila Bar358 W Ontario St, Chicago, ILIt may be called Aguardiente, or 'firewater,' but this 28-ounce concoction housed in a clay cazuela bowl is deceptively sweet with its blend of Herradura Reposado Tequila, grapefuit, lime, pineapple and orange juices. Drinkers' advisory: Keep five Advil by the bed.

Rockit Bar & Grill22 W Hubbard St, Chicago, ILMaybe the last time you had a Bomb Pop was on your Schwin next to the ice cream truck. Well, this River North bar's red-white-and-blue beauty arrives in an erect, 14-ounce glass filled with Bacardi Raspberry, Bacardi Limon and other ingredients. A cherry topping and popsicle stick garnish completes the party. Drinkers' advisory: pre-bedtime omelette and four extra hours rest.

Pops For Champagne601 N State St, Chicago, ILYou and your crew will be way beyond bubbly once you get through a magnum-sized bottle, worth about 1.5 liters of champagne. Drinkers' advisory: Trying to beat a hangover? Forget about it.

Big Bar151 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, ILThis bar, and its martini, is for those who know that size really does matter. So when posed with the question, "Would you like your martini big ... or bigger?," know that the correct answer arrives in an eye-popping 48-ounce glass. Drinkers' advisory: Drunk dialing highly likely.

Ceres Cafe141 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, ILA 12-ounce drink doesn't sound like too much to handle, unless of course, it's filled with pure alcohol. In order to make room for a mixer of their choice, patrons must suck down the poison first. Drinkers' advisory: That's worth about four airplane mini-bottles of booze.

Merkles Bar & Grill3516 N Clark St, Chicago, ILThis Wrigleyville hang earns the prize for best barware. On game days, regulars imbibe Long Island Ice Teas and other specialty cocktails from 100-ounce fishbowls. Drinkers' advisory: Write your address down on your hand before you go out so the cab driver will know where to drop you.

Crobar Nightclub1543 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, ILMaybe The Graveyard is a sign of how you'll be feeling the next day. A few glasses of the pint-sized concotion of Bacardi 151, vodka, gin, triple sec, tequila, bourbon, scotch and beer will have you wishing for death. Drinkers' advisory: Likely to cause embarrassing private confessions or full-on PDAs.

Monday, October 15, 2007

There's no need to hop a flight to Munich to enjoy the Oktoberfest holiday; right here in New York, German bars are celebrating with beer, beer and more beer throughout the month--check out our list of this year's best bets for Oktoberfest boozing.

Loreley7 Rivington St, New York, NYThe Bavarian brewhouse on the Bowery is featuring special Oktoberfest drafts from the likes of Spaten, Hofbrau and several other German breweries, for a limited time.

Zum Schneider107 Ave C, New York, NYSip on drafts of Hacker Pschorr, Ayinger, Schneider Wiesen Edelweiss and other Oktoberfest brews at the famous Alphabet City beer garden.

Rock Center Cafe20 W 50th St, New York, NYOn October 23, head to the Oktoberfest Brooklyn Beer Dinner, featuring favorite local brews like Brooklyn Pumpkin Ale and American cuisine with a German flare, at a cost of $48 per person, all-inclusive.

Lederhosen39 Grove St, New York, NYIn-the-know locals and German ex-pats hit up this cheap and authentic bierhaus for some of the city's best wurst and Oktoberfest beers on tap.

Heidelberg Restaurant1648 2nd Ave, New York, NYGerman food and drink find a home on the Upper East Side, and Oktoberfest specials are on both the food and drink menu, in addition to live music and other events.

Standings43 E 7th St, New York, NYFour American Oktoberfest brews are on tap along with other seasonal ales, plus complimentary bratwursts from Mandler's Sausage Shop.

Big Night Out in New YorkThey say good things come in threes--why should your New York City fun be any different? Each week, Citysearch scouts out three cool events, plus restaurants and bars nearby, so you can make a whole night of it. For more can't-miss events, check out our Hot List.

Greenpoint NightlifeAs one of Brooklyn’s hottest up-and-coming ‘hoods, Greenpoint has one thing down pat: a great bar scene. Check out Citysearch’s list of the best Greenpoint bars, from old-school pubs to new-school clubs.

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